The American territory faces a longer recovery than any other part of the U.S. hit by a hurricane

SAN JUAN—U. S. lawmakers, worried about the devastation to Puerto Rico after a powerful hurricane struck the island, are pushing for quick approval of relief funding while bracing for a battle about financing a new power system in the American territory.

Heading to Puerto Rico to assess the damage, Sen. Marco Rubio (R., Fla.) ran through the island’s immediate challenges, including power outages stemming in part from widespread damage to transmission lines and a dearth of trucks, other equipment and personnel to begin the...

RELATED VIDEO

Hurricane Science: Ingredients for the Perfect Storm

August and September mark peak hurricane season in the Atlantic basin. Here's why the conditions in these months make them more likely to form there. Photos: NASA/NOAA